Odisha would miss Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra launched from Kanyakumari on Wednesday.

The Yatra would traverse 12 states, including neighbouring state Telangana and two Union Territories before reaching Kashmir, but would give Odisha a miss.

However, Congress leaders here recalled how the essence of Bharat Jodo Yatra emanated from Odisha when 37-years ago Indira Gandhi delivered her last speech in Bhubaneswar where she spoke of giving her blood for the country’s unity. Even Rajiv Gandhi had made a whirlwind tour of the state just eight hours before his assassination at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991. Significantly before launching the tour, Rahul had visited Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbudur and paid his last respects to his father.

In fact, both Rajiv Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi had addressed their last public meetings in Odisha before being killed. “They were killed while working for Jude waton (unite the country). They were killed for national integration. Even during their meetings, both Rajiv and Indira had argued for national integration,” said a Congress leader.

Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Sarat Patnaik, who left for Tamil Nadu along with some other leaders from Odisha to join the Yatra, said: “I still remember how

a few hours before his assassination at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, Rajivji had undertaken a whirlwind tour of the state including areas like Bhadrak, Gunupur and Parlakhemnudi before leaving for Visakhapatnam and then going to Tamil Nadu.”

He said:“His mother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had also delivered her last speech in Bhubaneswar before her assassination. The Gandhi family has a close connection with Odisha. Rahul, too, visited Odisha several times and is closely associated with the people of the state.”

Senior Congress leader Manoranjan Dash said: “I still get goosebumps when I remember her blood and unity speech that she delivered on October 30, 1984. She said she might not be alive tomorrow but every drop of her blood would strengthen India and keep it united.” He added that the next day she was assassinated.

“Meri khoon ki har boond Bharat ki ekta ko mazboot banayegi (Every drop of my blood will strengthen India’s unity),” the then Prime Minister had said, aware of a threat to her life following the army operation to flush out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June that year.

Taking a cue from Congress’ tagline “Mile Kadam, Jude waton (Walk together, Unite the Country),” Pradesh Congress has decided to organise sarva dharma prayers (all faith-prayer meetings) at the block level. “Today evening, we organised the all-faith prayer meetings at block levels in the evening. We have asked all the block units to organise pada yatra for four to five kilometers every day in their respective block areas from Thursday. We will listen to public grievances and try to understand their problems,” said Bharat Yatra, Odisha cordinator Rabindra Kumar Sethi.

He said: “As the Bharat Yatra will not touch Odisha, we will send our representatives to greet the yatris when the yatra crosses the neighbouring states. We are yet to decide whether our people should join the Pada Yatra in Telangana or at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The AICC will give the necessary instructions in this regard. Our PCC president has already left to join the Pada Yatra.”